Drive 4 Show

Hit It Big And Hit The Fairway

SWOOSH THE SHAFTWHEN IT COMES TO TEACHING GOLF, visual imagery is a must for me, but I also rely on the importance of auditory feedback.
In this photo, I’m demonstrating an aural feedback tip that’s designed to help you time the release of your shots. Follow these three steps, and you’ll release the club perfectly every time.

1. Select your driver or other wood.
2. Turn it upside down so you’re holding its hosel. This lightens the club and makes it “whippy.”
3. Make a normal swing and concentrate on making a “swoosh” sound close to the “impact zone.”

If the swoosh sound happens either before or after the intended “impact zone,” you’re releasing the club too soon or too late. When that happens, I guarantee you the clubface will never be square.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT DRIVER1. DEMO IT. Nothing beats trying a new club. You may even surprise yourself with how well you hit a driver that doesn’t “match up” to your specs. Go to a demo day or test out a club at your home course. Don’t take only one swing. Hit it a number of times. If you can, take it out on the course and try it “under pressure.” It’s the best way to know how it’ll perform when you need it the most.

2. GET FIT. This is a great way to know the specifics of your game, which you’d never know by just hitting the ball. Learning your swing speed, ball speed and spin rate can help you get a better idea of what you need to play with.

3. IT'S TEMPTING to buy the latest high-tech offering that you see the pros using, but it might not be the right club for you. Their clubs are built specifically for them, and chances are, if you have a handicap in double digits, their specs aren’t going to sync with you. Be realistic—take advantage of the player-friendly clubs out there if that’s what helps you keep the ball in play.

JUST THE RIGHT SPINBETTER PLAYERS often struggle with spinning the ball too much—not only with wedges, but with their drivers, too.

Consider the two positions I’m in here. On this page, I’ve released my hands way too soon and have hit the impact bag with my hands far behind where they should be. I’ve “flipped” my wrists, which will cause all sorts of problems, including a loss of power, hooks and high trajectory.

Now take a look at the photos on the opposite page. See the difference? My hands are farther ahead, and my left arm is flush with the left side of my body. I’ve used my body, not my hands, to release the club and, as a result, have generated big power with just the right amount of spin.